Midfielder Bridcutt has produced a series of impressive performances in the Championship this season to reportedly attract the attention of clubs in the top flight.

Seagulls manager Gus Poyet has previously tipped Bridcutt to make it to the very top of the game, and he will have the chance to test himself against high-class opposition this weekend.

"I've always said that I want to play in the Premier League," he said in the Daily Star.

"I think I am good enough to play there. Gus has given me a great opportunity and I want to progress as much as I can."

Bridcutt is particularly looking forward to coming up against Jack Wilshere, having faced the Arsenal midfielder in a number of youth-team games during his time as a youngster at Chelsea.

The 23-year-old said: "Jack is a top quality player and will have a long career in the game for Arsenal and England.

"I played against him going up through the ranks. I was in my teens playing in the reserve team under Brendan Rodgers.

"At that time he was one of the youngsters coming through at Arsenal. He was tipped to be the next best thing and it turns out he was! He has more quality than me but I always enjoy playing against better players."

Readers' Comments

I

t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.